French Paradox - France

[DragonFly122]

Hell, butter is better for you than margarine.

[DragonFly122]

Paula Deen might want to take notes.

[MaxC17]

maybe it's because even though we love butter and flour... we don't eat a lot of processed food which has a lot of ingredients that I for one cannot pronounce. Plus the amaount they eat is... kinda gross... i love food and the idea of dieting for me isn't an option. But I don't get bags of chips and lots of fast food or processed food. I make most of my meals with raw ingredients... i dunno I think that's the mean difference from me to most of my American friends...

[passigali]

on French TV, whenever there is a commercial for food, there's an advertisement reminding us not to eat between meals, to exercise and to eat fruits and veggies. The great problem in America is the food industry lobbies, if McDonald's were sponsoring Educational program in schools in France, there would be a riot !!!

[passigali]

We French prefer quality over quantity. Portions in America are huge. If the fast food restaurants are so cheap is because they use low quality products full of sugar, fat and salt to make more profit, and it's just the same with all processed food. The only way to fight obesity is to cook from scratch, sitting at the table for meal and enjoy the momment with your family, no snacking, no soft drinks (not even juices which are full of sugar).

[ShaxAMV]

Nothing wrong with eating fat guys, keep everything in moderation and enjoy the fruits of life. Don't complicate things, stay away from things that are highly processed and sugar enriched. But fat is completely fine.

[Yottabee]

I am a normal-weight, 115-lb. American woman.

Having said that, when I come back, I want to be born in France.

I want that food!

I want that wine!

'Nuff said :)

[Verrie77]

LoL it seems all countries that talk english are fat :)..some more than others.

USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, CANADA

[ShaxAMV]

@Verrie77 Canadians aren't that fat compared to the rest because they speak French there, LOL.

[asunawa]

I've lived in France for several years and for me the reason why so few french people are obesed is NOT because they don't eat a lot of fat. The french generally love butter ("avec un peu de beurre, tout est meilleur") and they love their cheese etc. BUT they eat more atkins-styled and carbohydrates (necessary to bind fat) are often replaced with vegetables. And they certainly don't drink as much suger as americans, most parents would never allow their kids to drink coke during the weeks

[awesomeiguy]

the french know how to live, they eat alot they excersise alot and their in good shape, its the best of both worlds!!

[Anrwi]

I know their secret!

I lived on the 4th floor of an apartment building (that's 5th floor to you Americans) in Paris, without an elevator.

Most of my friends and acquaintances likewise lived on the top floors of elevator-less apartments, as did my doctor, the yoga studio I went to, and most of their public transportation systems are not 24 hours.

By the time I moved back to the UK years later, I was toned!

... true, before the year was up, I got it all back : (

Vive la France!

[Sofrie37]

Now im confused,in the video it says not to snack but ive heard people say to sncak regularly to keep your metabolism going.

[Tsoma1]

@Sofrie37 they mean snacking as in don't snack on potato chips and chocolate bars, you can snack on fruits and veggies though

[Sofrie37]

Now im confused,in the video it says nit to snack but ive heard people say to sncak regularly to keep your metabolism going.

[cramval]

Laissez tomber vos Mac'do et mangés de la vraie nourriture.Par exemple une assiette de cuisses de grenouilles sautées a l'ail et au persil . ;)

[MrSpemat]

this is why everyone hates the French... LOL

[wade2bosh]

skinny ppl dont diet. we just have good habits. even when surrounded by an obesogenic environment.

[CizzarGX]

Other reasons :

- portions are much smaller than in the USA (you won't find a 3L bottle of coke here)

- we eat real food (ex:real cheese, not the processed plastic shit you call "american cheese")

- we don't use our cars for distances <1 mile

- school food doesn't consist of hamburgers and hotdogs everyday

this is true for almost all of Europe

[MsTerri74]

@CizzarGX You are completely CORRECT. I'm an American living in Portugal and in general the Portuguese aren't very big. U have some but not many. Portuguese people like REAL FOOD. I couldn't agree more.

[notransitory1]

@CizzarGX AUGH "American cheese" is so god awful. Growing up in a Dutch family, eating all sorts of Gouda and whatnot, I can say I am pretty snobby about that kind of stuff!

[Altois]

@notransitory1 I wouldn't even consider that cheese. It's more like a processed cheese product.

[TheTroy103]

Let this be a guiding light to all of you Americans out there. You live fast and highly driven lives in order to "achieve". However, though you achieve material things, you miss out on the great natural and God given pleasures of life. These pleasures are simple, they include the appreciation of nature, nourishing food, leasurely time spent in the company of friends, and the odd glass or two of vino. Forget stress, enjoy your lives!

[CreativeProfiteer98]

Europeans, in general, live at a slower pace than in America. Even when I lived in England, it took me 6 months just to wind down. I miss that pace of life. More time to think. Less time to be spastic. No political correctness to worry about. It was nice.

[Norficaton]

Putain de merde un bon vieux poulet rôti, rien de meilleur ! ça me donne faim

[phatmanqwerty]

google "obesity in france"....and you'll see that "all those croissants really do add up"

[eKomsTopIncense]

LOL she told on her self when she said, "OK I won't."

[talon115]

We are so lied to in America!

[animationeer]

after watching this, I've decided I LOVE France! They can eat all that rich food and wine every day and not worry about weight, what heaven! They sure are lucky..

[707hoser]

The French savour every bite and eat slower than we do in North America. Here we cram down food as fast as we can. There they take hours over a meal and make it a social occasion. They have wine with almost every meal and yet we have more alcoholics here.

[xjoshyuux]

that bacon pastrami sandwich when the narrator was explaining the American diet looked so gooodddd... .

[TheControverseMan]

@xjoshyuux

it looks like a huge pile of ... aagh, never mind ^^

[jivenesspie]

Maybe their 35 hour work week has something to do with it. When work more and constantly stressed, I get fat. When I'm not working and relaxed, skinny.

[TwilightF]

Easy; the women eat lightly (soups for lunch, small amounts of heavy foods, self made food in general) and thus stay slim. Not rocket science. I have a book about this.

[ashleysoulful]

I've been to France many times and the women on the street was often slim whereas in Canada we have a quite strong obesity rate, I think it's because Canadian love to copy American way of life, and love eat in mcdo.

[lohan1907]

In france we think that lunch and diner are important for social relationships. On sundays we usually have lunch with our familly, and it can last all afternoon. Because we take time to eat and talk. We don't eat more than the other days but we eat longer.

Also we love cooking, it generally makes us happy because we think of how the others will appreciate eating our food..

[monkeyman1140]

There's no paradox, Americans and the British simply eat too large a quantity of food.

[shillyshallyz]

@monkeyman1140 LOL

it's an abuse of language to call it FOOD !

Indeed they're eating too much, but of any junk stuffs:

THEY STUFF THEMSELVES day after day after day

with RUBBISH.

[TheSurfFRA]

In france we are between USA Ultracapitalist and Islam so we protect us ^^

Ps: I love USA :p

[tremah05]

Of course quality is important, but being french I can tell that the key is to take the time to properly eat, and not just consider food in terms of quantity or as some kind of fuel that you put into your stomach. I guess in the english/american culture taking the time to eat is somewhat regarded as losing your time, hence the bad snack habits, eating while watching tv, in the car, etc. Eating is an important part of cultural life, take the time and it will keep you away from junk food !

[xxdiogenescynicxx]

This isn't that complicated. The french just don't eat overly processed food. Look at all the food it is generally in its natural state.

[BitchesCallMeTFree]

Just got back from France. Holy shit! People are so hot there!

[LaurenisinWonderland]

u know wats weird? here in the US the poor r fat and the richer are more healthy, but in other countries the poor are thin....someone should start raising the prices on the big macs :D

[Meteotrance]

I think our food are good cause it's also due to the manner you feed your animals in america, Hormone is autorized to feed the pork the beef and other animal's, but in France it's prohibited in the 70's we do the same like american farmer and it was a catastrophy for the health, the best country to have a diet is probably Japan and asia in generaly the food are so good that i have lost 10 kilogram in 1 month !!!

[AngelBones84]

My step father is french and I grew up with freanch cooking and it has greatly influanced how I myself feed my family and I totally agree with what they are saying about the quality of the food . My step father is in very good health at 62 and his mother who is 98 is still going strong ! I also think that the French have a very laid back lifestyle and the lack of stress has alot to do with it ! Americans are SO stressed about eveyrthing.

[princesscharmer]

hmmm, a glass of wine a day, sounds good to me!

[SuperSayjinElite]

Ever seen a fat ethiopian?

Neither have I!

What sounds like the wind and smells like dirt?

Ethiopian farts!

[MrsRondine]

So true, french people prefers eat less but better. And they don't snack they eat "à table" sat on table.

[cray0ndec0uleur]

@MrsRondine we don't sit on the table, on a chair ^^

[MrsRondine]

@cray0ndec0uleur Merci pour la précision ;).

[cray0ndec0uleur]

@MrsRondine mais de rien

[80Cetbal08]

After having just seen the, revolting, "living large" documentary, watching this was such a relief.

So much that I am almost crying.

Thank God I live in Europe.

[oxymore17]

that's wrong, there are not as much as butter in food :) In fact we will be very fat ;)

[stacyl118]

Thank god I'm asian. We can eat all we want and not gain much weight if at all. If anyone eat the fatty, oil drenched fried rice and the the quantities of the fatty food we eat, they'd look like hipos.

[aznguy11111]

.. i'm asian and i get fat easily'

[stacyl118]

Well then you're an exception to the rule. An apple that fell very far from the tree. You are the big bright sun in a galaxy full of neutron stars!

[kotapaka]

That's bullshit. You can't generalize this for a nation let alone a whole continent.

And yes I've seen very very fat asians. Actually chinese associate being fat with prosperity. The only reason a lot of asians are thin is because they eat very very little (because of poverty and overpopulation). A normal european eats 3000kcals a day compared to the 1200kcals a day for an asian (but again that's too general).

Actually scientist proved that asians on western diets become too fat.

[TheStueck]

@stacyl118

That's not true. When I have been to China I ate everything that came to our table. And we had a lot of food (much more than the Chinese people in the restaurants). Anyway I lost weight. On the other hand I read that China also has to fight upcoming obesity.

In my opinion genetics have just a little influence and lifestyle has a lot.

The French paradox actually is no paradox: They eat less calories and are more active.

[dtegg91]

Aaahh, they sell chickens like those near my apartment in Paris! I've never gotten one yet, but I feel one day I will succumb!

I grew up in North America, and now I live in France and the diet is quite different. Food is more locally based and wine is a staple of the diet. However, the French do eat much more bread and fatty meats (ham, duck, etc.), and they enjoy their sweets. Yet, living in Paris, you walk an exceptional amount which causes for a healthy balance, but not a perfect one.

[ThaTrillMagician]

coz i know lots of fat ppl who eat very little compared to me, i eat like 3 meals in one sitting and im skinnier than a mothafucka! i mean, come on! but excessive eatin like that does stretch out the liver and stuff n u will gain weight if u continue

cigs are very bad for the heart, polluting for the body, lungs and immune system by the way.

[ThaTrillMagician]

fuck what he say, it's obviously genetic, usa eating 50 chickens = boooooom

france eating 50 chickens = 2lb gain that will be lost through the daily walk to work

he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about, it's obviously a genetic disorder that people obtain... kind of like other problems, for example psoriasis), only difference is........ is that u cant see it!

[jacquelineveronique]

You ontradict yourself. First you said in Rome they smoked IN the pub, and klater you wrote they smoked OUTSIDE the pub. What is it gonna be, hick ?

[jacquelineveronique]

klater = later

[LoveTheSupremes]

It's laughable that the subject of this video would be a puzzle in anyone's mind. It's not just the French paradox, It's the Spanish paradox, Italian paradox, etc..

American food means TOXIC processed food, unbalanced meals, gluttonous obsessive eating, preservatives up the ying yang and what not. European food isn't like this. It's pure and extremely flavorful. Also Europeans bike and walk much more than Americans do simply because communities are built on a human scale....

[rania3830]

the French eat in moderation which is why they don't gain weight. in America we overeat.

[jacquelineveronique]

I don't know how they do it. They love their fatty foods, love their wines, love their cigarettes and have yet a longer life expectancy rate and lower obesity than we have here in America.

[zaaz369]

fat is not bad; wine is healthy; & cigs don't kill. they simply don't stress like we do. they enjoy life.

[rania3830]

cigs do kill my friend. my grandmother has been smoking since she was 18 and now she has emphysema.

[LoveTheSupremes]

dork,... cigs do kill....I didn't see a whole of people smoking in this video clip. And when I was in Rome, Italy I didn't see a whole lot of smokers there either, even though you can smoke in the pubs and outside the restaurants. Europeans have common sense

[jacquelineveronique]

You apparently have never been to Europe as you say they can smoke in pubs. That is not the case in most EU countries anymore, moron

[LoveTheSupremes]

Excuse me, CUNT, but you don't know where I have or have not been. And yes, when I was in Rome, Italy for 2 weeks I saw some people smoking outside the pubs. I avoided embarrassing Americans when I was there who with few exceptions don't have any class, are searching for the nearest McDonalds and show no concept of moderation.

[jacquelineveronique]

You have no manners. All I did was asking a question here, yet you feel to attack me, but I see you attack many people here on this video. Says more about you than about me, just go kill yourself already;

[jacquelineveronique]

Hey, where was my background taken ? And I have never been to Europe ?

Hahaha, I love Europe. Go there 90 days a year. My favorite countries ? Germany, Spain and Italy. Germany based on mom's heritage. Spain and Italy because I love Latin culture and the sun there.

[charlelie]

Our cigarettes cause lots of dead, but not wine and fat food, jaqueline :) The food we eat is globaly (and traditionally) less fat than in north-america, althought it tends to change in the wrong way. French have a different way of consuming alcohol than anglosaxons nations also. When british men don't drink during the week and get drunk in the week ends, french drink 2 glasses of wine per meal. It is proven that its good for health because it cleans arteries.

[LoveTheSupremes]

Think about it, and you'll figure it out, of course if you've never been to France or any other Western European country, you'll never understand how they're not disease plagued like we are in USA.. I've been to Italy, so I understand. The whole idea of consumption of food and drink is way different than in the USA. Everyone in Rome looks like fashion models.

[jacquelineveronique]

Don't make stupid assumptions. I have been to France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Britain, Norway, Denmark. Hence my sister lives in Amsterdam and you think I have never been to Europe ? I have pictures of me in France, Italy, etcetera and had them as background on my channel. Have also been to Thailand and Australia. I will change my background of me in front of the Coleseum in Rome. So don't talk BS, moron.

[Rezo54]

We also have a great health care system, You give a little bit of money each month which is taken on your salary and in exchange you can go to the dentist, the doctor, at the hospital for free. People who have money pay for the ones who can't afford that. That is for sure why we live longer!

And for the obesity, I'll use an example: In America, your smallest Mc Donald menu is the biggest here AND it's expensive. Eating fast food isn't as cheap has in america

[jacquelineveronique]

I want Obama's health care plan to go through here in America, but there are too many conservative forces who oppose universal health care here in America. All bush fault.

[imnevermakingavideo]

the problem with healthcare in the US is that we have the best healthcare in the world....as long as you can afford it

[ClassicExampleBand]

Could it be that saturated fats are acually good for you? Is it possible? In America, we eat less saturated fats, eat low fat diets, and have heart attacks like crazy! The French don't watch as much tv and drive cars everywhere like Americans do. Plus they eat healthy saturated fats!

[LoveTheSupremes]

Are you sure they don't mean they eat monounsaturated fats

[mariposasoleil]

C'est tres bien....je voudrais faire comme les francaises.....parce que je mange beaucoup.

[mouna28]

Oh!!! Ihave forgotten : the best is to eat a little portion of different meals !

Have a nice day !

[mouna28]

It is what we call "TAKE THE PLEASURES OF LIFE" !!!

Even if it doesn't mean that we have no problems...

[mouna28]

The best combination is :

-a little sport each day (walk, bicycles,climb on to the staircases, no elevator if possible...)

-Have a balance meal ( meat or fish, rice , potatoes or "pasta", vegetables and fruits, plus CHEESE)

-Not always the same meals . So, you don't have to eat some vitamine's pills . In France the persons who are the healthiest take NEVER that !!! No need!!! Or almost never, except if they are ill ...

-one gass of red vine from time to time.

.............

[mouna28]

The polyphenols is the new word for vegetable tannin.

The polyphenols (precisely the resveratrol) are antioxidant agent which protect arteries and prevent cancers . But, many French don't drink wine .

But many French only drink wine for a special occasion, not everyday... And they have not particularly problem with their weight.

The best combination is :

-sport

[mouna28]

An other reason about thin figures : when we eat one rich meal, the other meals of the lunch are not as rich as this one. And we walk much more than the American people, even if we don't walk as much as our ancestors.

[MzGreenEyes89]

Like us Italians as well.. We eat a very big lunch and a small dinner

Both countries are also not reliant on cars.. we walk everywhere =)

[paladinken]

this video makes me hungry

[kundio6661]

Bravo !! Great upload . Positve. Nice to see something informative. Other than American Networks CNN , ABC , NBC and the proagadist bullshit they feed the cow brain controled population.Thanks uploader. You helped my day. Viva la Vino !

[mouna28]

Not all wine are good for health : only red wine, especially Bordeaux, because of the "tanin". But 1 or 2 glasses in a day, NO MORE !!!

[charlelie]

interesting. is it because of the absence of tanin that rosé or white wine not especially good for health ?

[addicted2trance]

let's not forget smoking suppresses appetite...the French smoke a lot, as do most Europeans

[ThoughtPatterns]

The French know how to live. Cheers to the French.

[darapperr]

Love cheese and relaxation.

[AppleSouffle]

A splendid video! It would be nice to see an update with research from the latest studies.

Eating fat does not make you fat, eating sugar makes you fat. Americans keep clinging to the low fat myth, and they keep getting fatter every year.

I like the easy going, enjoy life, French lifesytle! The French definitely know how to live the good life!

[Nicoranta]

Il faut de la culture pour cela, quand-meme:) Les Americains sont pour l'argent, mais sans plaisirs en toute leur santé la vie ne vaut rien!

[webcat93]

radical

[BastardTrees]

SMALL PORTIONS!!!

[quius]

French portions are really really small. The French just eat what they need and also for taste. They don't eat any of the shitty fast food like the other western countries. For the very few times, I agree w/ the French.

[llalongapo30]

it pays to be an alcoholic!! go France!!

[ClamLuvr]

In America our food is processed to the point where the nutrients are killed. How can we expect it to be healthy? Also, people in other countries seem to be more physically active as part of their everyday lives. They don't get in the car and drive to the neighbor's house like Americans do.

[yogirl515]

@ClamLuvr Yeah, AND look at the portions!

[Brukernavn]

Vine, cheese etc = nom nom and healthy. Mc Donalds etc is not!!

[Dangerflamablesolid]

Its not the genes idiot. Its the RELAXATION!!!!!!!!!! Stress causes far more cancer than butter. They just DONT WORRY OBSESSIVELY like brits do.

[BENDAWICH]

bleh